Launch Tennessee

Tennessee founders, you won't want to miss this! 👀 Global startup pitch show, @meetthedrapers is coming to Nashville on Friday, June 5, in partnership with @launchtn . You only have ONE day left to apply to pitch live in front of venture capital icon Tim Draper and compete for up to $1M in investment. Apply at the #linkinbio and share this with any founders you know! #StartupLife #DraperAmericaTour #PitchCompetition #LaunchTN

Join #LaunchTN next Tuesday, May 19 for the kickoff of our SBIR/STTR Webinar Series, designed to help founders and researchers navigate non-dilutive funding opportunities. This session will provide a timely overview of recent changes following the federal program’s reauthorization, including key updates across agencies and important upcoming deadlines. Whether you’re new to SBIR or preparing for an upcoming submission, this session will help you navigate the current landscape and take the next steps with confidence. RSVP now by going to the #linkinbio #SBIR #STTR #StartupFunding

Big things are happening across the #TTAC network! This year, each TTAC institution is designating a Commercialization Counselor to serve as a front door for faculty and students looking to explore innovation, collaboration, and translational research. These counselors will be activated within their campus research offices, making it easier for researchers to navigate resources, get connected, and move new ideas toward impact. Meet Rick Neff at @mtsu ! Rick Neff was previously the Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Director of Blackstone LaunchPad at the University at Albany. Prior to his career in higher education, he was the Founder of Akula Engineering, providing marine engineering and design services to an aluminum boat manufacturer; and Co-founder of IgniteU NY, an entrepreneur support organization within the non-profit New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation (NYSTEC). We're thrilled to have him join the TTAC community as we work together to strengthen commercialization capacity across Tennessee’s research institutions. #LaunchTN #TechTransfer #InnovationEcosystem #TennesseeInnovation

We're hiring, join #LaunchTN's Capital team as a Capital Analyst! This position will play an integral role in the continuing deployment of the InvestTN Fund, serving Tennessee’s startups and entrepreneurs. The Capital Analyst will be responsible for a dynamic range of tasks, with a primary focus on due diligence and applicant management. Sound like the right fit? Learn more & apply at the #linkinbio #hiring #jointheteam

It was so great to get leads from the regional entrepreneur centers all across the state together last week! We spent time catching up on opportunities with the InvestTN program, a preview of this fall's #3686fest, and more. We love our Network Partners 💛 #LaunchTN #NetworkPartners #Tennessee

In this episode of #BestMistake, hear from Drew Dedo, Founder of @teamharbor on how moments of crisis can sometimes lead to even stronger client relationships... and also the importance of reputable shipping partners for one-of-a-kind artifacts. #LaunchTN's ‪video series, The Best Mistake I Ever Made, is changing the way we think about errors, one story at a time. Watch as innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and more share moments when things went completely off the rails, and how they turned those challenges into valuable lessons. #Entrepreneurship #entrepreneurjourney #tnentrepreneurs

We had an incredible time at our Spring Open House this week! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to connect with colleagues and partners, catch up with the LaunchTN team, and raise a glass to innovation and community. Swipe through the photos and drop a comment if you spot a familiar face. ⬇️ 📸: @ellexcorporate #LaunchTN #OpenHouse #Tennessee #TennesseeInnovation #EntrepreneurshipTN

And that's a wrap on the InvestTN Road Tour! Hosted by Pinnacle Financial Partners and Launch Tennessee, with support from the Nasdaq Foundation, the tour visited 10 cities across the state, connecting founders with funding opportunities, investment insights, and resources in their own backyard. Since June 2025, the #LaunchTN team has been on the road sharing details about our $70M InvestTN fund, helping entrepreneurs connect with regional Entrepreneur Centers, and building bridges between innovators and investors across Tennessee, from Johnson City to Memphis, Chattanooga to Martin, and everywhere in between. Huge thanks to our LaunchTN Network Partners, the #NasdaqFoundation, Pinnacle Financial Partners, and Pathway Lending for helping bring it all to life in each city. #CapitalConversations #CapitalConvos

Stay in the loop on all things Tennessee innovation! We’ve rounded up the must-read news and ecosystem updates from across the state. Subscribe to The Pitch at the #linkinbio for bi-weekly updates you don’t want to miss. #startupnews #startupsuccess #LaunchTN

Next up in our #LaunchTNwisdom series: Max Thompson, CEO of @healioscan , a Nashville-based precision healthtech company. Have some advice of your own to share? Drop your #10WordsOfWisdom in the comments! #LaunchTN #StartupSuccess #Innovation

Through the Tennessee Technology Advancement Corporation (TTAC), Launch Tennessee is supporting campuses as they build knowledge, resources, and expertise, accelerating a technology pipeline from university research to real-world impact. In this series, we’re highlighting the impactful work happening across our TTAC member institutions. Next up: @meharrymedicalcollege Medical researchers work in the smallest units of life — cells, molecules, data. Yet every discovery carries a bigger question: How does this end up actually being used to help patients? At Meharry Medical College, where researchers are pushing ahead in precision medicine, closing that gap is harder than it looks. Between a promising result and a real-world treatment lies a side of modern research most people never see and the long work of finding the right company or startup willing to take the next commercial risk. TTAC is helping Meharry researchers navigate that process earlier, so more discoveries move beyond the lab. Read the full story at the #linkinbio #SpotlightOnInnovation #TTAC #LaunchTN #TennesseeInnovation #TechTransfer

RSVP to join us at our spring open house, which is only ONE week away! Reasons to attend: - Catch up with colleagues and partners - Get tasty, free drinks and bites - Make new connections within the innovation ecosystem ​​- Take a turn in the spotlight and step in front of the camera in our pop-up video studio Details: Wednesday, May 6 4- 6 p.m. CT 601 Taylor Pl #101 Nashville, Tennessee RSVP at #linkinbio